Human Disorders

What is telangiectasia? Telangiectasia (commonly known as “spider veins”) are dilated or broken blood vessels located near the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. They often appear as fine pink or red lines, which temporarily whiten when pressed. “Matted” telangiectasias are clusters of these small dilated blood vessels that …

Definition Anosmia is the full loss of smell. Anosmia can be a temporary or permanent condition. You can partially or completely lose your sense of smell when the mucus membranes in your nose are irritated or obstructed such as when you have a severe cold or a sinus infection, for …

Definition Precocious puberty is the term for puberty that begins much earlier than usual. Puberty is the process in which a child has a growth spurt and develops the sexual physical features of an adult. In the brain, the hypothalamus releases chemicals (hormones) that cause the pituitary gland to release …

Definition Rectal prolapse is when part of your rectum sticks out through your anus (back passage) to form a lump. The rectum is the last part of your bowel. You may notice the rectal prolapse when you’re having a bowel movement. But it can also happen when you cough or …

Overview – Heat stroke Heat stroke is a form of hyperthermia or heat-related illness, an abnormally elevated body temperature with accompanying physical symptoms including changes in the nervous system function. Unlike heat cramps and heat exhaustion, two other forms of hyperthermia that are less severe, heat stroke is a true …

Introduction Dry mouth, or xerostomia, refers to a condition in which the salivary glands in your mouth don’t make enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. It is often due to the side effect of certain medications or aging issues or as a result of radiation therapy for cancer. Less …

Definition Koilonychia is a condition where the nails do not develop normally and are very thin and concaved with raised edges. Due to the concavity of the nails, they are also known as “spoon” nails. Other than the concavity, koilonychia also affects the texture, color, shape, and thickness of the …

Definition Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition where an excessive amount of sweat is produced by the sweat glands. The amount of sweat produced is out of proportion to the amount required to cool the body. This does not mean that sweating a lot after running on a hot summer’s day …